There Is No Place For Fakes

Now it was time to return to the imperial palace.

After Jeremiah contacted Le Guin through the communication device, the two of them returned to the place where they first came with the movement magic and waited for Le Guin.

“…”

Jeremiah was silent for a while after returning from the riverside. 

Philomel guessed why.

‘Are you angry that I don’t seem to be taking your advice seriously?’

Then Philomel had something to say.

She didn’t heed Jeremiah’s advice, she didn’t really have to, because it wasn’t really relevant to Philomel.

Philomel never expected anything from them.

Of course, I thought those who followed her all the way here wouldn’t hate Philomel.

I didn’t even know if I cared about it, but it wouldn’t be as special as treating my family.

So when Jeremiah brought it up, it only caused her a bit of bewilderment.

‘In a way, it sounded like Philomel’s concern that she might go down the same path as his mother. Jeremiah, you have a very delicate corner.’

In an instant, the gazes of Jeremiah and Philomel met.

He quickly turned his face away.

‘Oh, but I think you’re looking at me to see if I’m angry…?’

Philomel’s doubts were soon erased by people’s murmurs. Come to think of it, the streets were noisy for some reason.

‘What’s going on?’

Philomel took a few steps out of the back alley and looked out onto the boulevard. Many people gathered in front of the bulletin board and were whispering.

‘It seems like it will take time for Le Guin to arrive, but a little while would be fine, right?’

Philomel listened to the conversation of two nearby passers-by.

“Hey, what’s written on the poster that came down from the palace, so it’s such a mess? Ugh, there are so many people that I can’t even see them.”

“The rumor that a new princess has appeared is true.”

“I knew it!”

“But that’s not the point! They say the old princess isn’t a bad person!”

The person who heard that jumped.

“What is it? Then why was she the princess when she wasn’t really the Emperor’s daughter!”

“It says on the poster that it was accidentally changed when the princess was born, due to the mistakes of the lower ones.”

“No, is that possible?”

“I don’t know! Well, doesn’t it often happen that a child changes at a daycare center? It seems that the circumstances of the high-ranking people are no different from ours.”

 There’s all that’s going on.”

“You should watch your mouth, too. They said that if you go around talking about the princess’s past, your tongue will be cut off.”

“Who said that?”

“The soldier who was putting up the poster turned out to be a person who really appreciates finding the princess.”

“It was. I knew it for some reason.”

“When did you? Didn’t you shout that such things should be prematurely killed?”

“Yekki! You’ll be in big trouble if someone hears you!” But…”

The man stroked his chin with a questionable look.

“Strangely, I was furious at that time… In retrospect, it didn’t have to be.”

“I know. I thought that someone who didn’t even read the newspaper was curiously interested.”

Then a sound came right behind Philomel.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh my god!”

As Philomel screamed in embarrassment, Jeremiah, who was behind her, scratched his cheek shyly.

“Since Le Guin has arrived, let’s go.”

“What about Jeremiah? Aren’t you going?” Are you really leaving the capital city?

If that’s the case, there’s something I need to say before that.

Philomel urgently looked at him.

“… You go first. I have some things to take care of before I go separately.”

Looking down at Philomel, Jeremiah replied.

“How can you enter the palace without Le Guin?”

“There are ways. It takes a bit longer, and it’s bothersome, but no big deal.”

Leaving only these words, Jeremiah disappeared towards the square.

Philomel joined Le Guin and returned to the Palace.

When asked why he came so late, Le Guin replied that Countess Deles kept ordering him around.

Finally, Philomel realized that Le Guin had been disguising himself as her to deceive other people all this time.

Le Guin claimed to have perfectly played Philomel, but…

“Miss, Philomel? Um…did you enjoy the meal?”

“If we did something wrong, please don’t hesitate to tell us.”

When the countess Deles and her maidservants carefully watched her, it was an untrustworthy statement.

“What on earth did you do?!”

But it was already spilled water.

She promised herself not to give Le Guin this kind of role again.

Jeremiah came back in the late evening. His clothes and hair seemed to have burned as if he had jumped into a pit of fire on his way back.

He came through the window once again, holding a fancy paper bag in his hands.  

“I found it on the way here.”

“…You found Crescion bakery’s snacks on the way here? 

The envelope was full of various popular menu items that Crescion bakery boasted about.

“Ahem! I didn’t see any lines on the way here. I just picked it up on the way without hesitation.”

If you picked it up, you picked it up, and if you bought it, you bought it. It was strange logic.

Jeremy looked down at the innocent ground for no reason.

“Anyway! I’ll give it to you, so eat it. And…”

The next words were gibberish.

“Forget what I said during the day. It was nonsense.”

Philemon didn’t quite understand what that meant.

“What did he say during the day? What was that? Oh, that!”

She’s more delicate than you’d think.

Le Guin, who was listening to their conversation, chimed in instead of the hesitant Jeremy.

“What, what? What did Jeremiah say?”

Philemon answered instead of Jeremiah, who was hemming and hawing.

“It’s nothing. Instead, why don’t we eat these snacks? They’re delicious!”

The three of them used Le Guin’s magic to move to the Maze Garden and held a midnight snack party in Caneo Peak.

“Hey, that was the one I was going to steam and eat.”

“Hmph. The one who grabs it first is the boss.”

“Stop talking and give it to me.”

“That’s where I draw the line with the things I’ve bought.”

The sound of the two rich men bickering served as background noise.

As if passing by, Philomel mentioned, “It would’ve been nice if Lexion and Cadin were here,” and the two men suddenly appeared.

Lexion, who had fallen from the magic circle created by Le Guin in the air, grabbed onto his shoulders and stood up.

“Ugh, I wish you could’ve just called us normally.”

Cadin, who had fallen asleep, showed no signs of waking up even though he fell from somewhere.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to call you like that…”

As Philomel looked at Le Guin with an accusing gaze, he shrugged.

“Well, those two are rough, so it’s fine.”

“Ugh, let’s just talk. 

In any case, Lexion sat down in his seat. After a while, Cadin, who had woken up with Jeremiah’s foot tapping, joined them.

Lexion and Cadin were appointed as court magicians today.

The four of them started chatting.

“Wow! These cookies are really delicious! What’s their name?”

Cadin exclaimed as he ate the cookies.

“Jeez, it’s too noisy to eat.”

Jeremiah grumbled, and Lexion calmly spoke up.

“Phil, there was this countess or something who was really bothering me today, pretending to be you.”

Le Guin started the conversation.

While watching her father and brothers chattering away, Philomel thought to herself. These people really only talk about themselves.

“Is there ever a proper conversation between us?”

Anyway, they were all people who thought of Philomel in their own way.

And when they all gathered together, she had something she wanted to say before Jeremiah left.

“Everyone, please listen.”

All the noise stopped and everyone’s attention was focused on Philomel.

Philomel cleared her throat and said, “I have something I want to say to all of you. I want to express my gratitude for coming all the way here for me.”

She held the hem of her dress and slightly bowed her body.

“I don’t expect any of you to take responsibility for my life.”

Everyone who had been listening to Philomel intently until now was suddenly taken aback.

“I don’t have any intention of going to Mage Tower even if I finish what I came here to do. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I won’t ever go. If I think of you, I’ll come to visit. As long as you don’t shut me out…”

“Wait a minute, Phil.”

Lexion was the first to regain his composure and raised his hand.

“Yes.”

“If you’re not going to Mage Tower, where are you planning to live? Perhaps in the Imperial Palace?”

“No, that’s not it. I haven’t decided on anything specific yet.”

“Well, Mage Tower wouldn’t be a bad choice…”

“No. Lexion told me to do what I wanted to do.”

Philomel interrupted Lexion firmly.

“That’s right.”

“I’ve thought about it, but I just don’t feel like going to Mage Tower.”

“Why?”

Le Guin asked with a puzzled expression that was hard to understand.

“Even if you became a wizard, wouldn’t you want to go to Mage Tower?”

“But I’m not a wizard.”

“Then you can become one.”

Despite Le Guin’s insistence, Philomel did not waver.

“Why are you like this?!”

The three brothers also kept trying to persuade Philomel.

“Phil, think about it again. Mage Tower is a pretty good place.”

“That’s right! It’s a good place…”

“Well, it’s not bad.”

Lexion, Caden, and Jeremiah spoke in turn.

“Thank you for your thoughts, but I have no intention of going.”

But Philomel was adamant.

Of course, there was a slight concern in her heart.

‘What if I become a criminal and have nowhere to go?’

If that happens, she would have to go to Mage Tower whether she liked it or not.

However, there was no sign of that happening, and they all seemed to expect Philomel to go to Mage Tower after she finished her business.

Continuing to receive their help without clearly expressing her own feelings was no different from deceiving them.

Philomel discreetly measured everyone’s reaction. She was worried about how they would feel if she became upset.

But they were all thinking something different from Philomel, determined to change her mind before she left the Imperial Palace.